Drum-beater



,clination longitudinally.

UNITED STATES GEORGE A. SMITH, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

DRUM-BEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed July 26, 1918. Serial No. 2 16,9205.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drum-Beaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in bass-drum heaters and has for one of its objects to provide such a pivotal mounting for the beater-rod that, during its arc of movement, it will not be disposed in a vertical position. Another object is to provide means to adjust the base or pedal-frame transversely and at such degrees of inclination as may be required. Also to provide means for adjustments so that the base may be supported at selected degrees of in- The invention also has for its object to provide a construction employing as few and simple parts as will be consistent with durability and efliciency.

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned hereinafter, the invention presents a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,--

Figure 1 is a view of the device in side elevation, a part of a drum being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a View of the device in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pedal-frame or base.

Referring now to the drawing, the device is illustrated in connection with a drumshell or body 1, a drum head 5, and a hoop 6 for the drum head. 1

One of the distinguishing features in the present construction is that the base 7 is provided with a pair of inclined standards 8 which project beyond its rear end, each standard having a curved terminal a in which is mounted the pivot b for the beaterrod 9, clamping-bars 10 being provided and arranged in pairs at the sides of the standards for a pivotal mounting 0 in said standards, the outer ends of the clamping-bars being disposed in the vertical plane of said pivotal mounting for the beater-rod.

On account of this construction, the clamping-bars provide a comparatively broad support for gripping the drum-hoop 6, the particular advantage, however, being that the beater-rod, during its arc of movement, will be prevented from being disposed in a vertical position, since the pivotal mounting for its lower end will be disposed in the plane of the drum hoop and very near the head of the drum, the curved parts a being very near thereto.

The feature last described has been found to be of great advantage and will be appreciated by all users of the device since the head of the beater-rod, normally, will be maintained in disengaged relation with the head of the drum, and therefore will not interfere with vibration; also movements of the beater-rod will be under suitable control and the are of movement less than ordinary; and the strokes may be delivered with facility and at very limited intervals, this being required for certain kinds of music.

1 Means for operating the beater-rod consists of the pedal 12 pivotally mounted at 13, between its ends, in the pair of uprights 1 1 of the base 7, an end portion of the pedal engaging the roller 15 of the crank 16 of the beater-rod, whereby, a downward movement of the foot-pedal against the force of the spiral spring 17 will cause a swinging movement of the beater-rod toward the drum head, retraction of the spring together with the weight of the metallic parts, causing a reverse swinging movement of the beater-rod.

Numeral 20 indicates a clip for a mounting of one end of the spring, the opposite end thereof being connected with the pedal, adjacent to the pivotal mounting 13. The

clip 20 is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the beater-rod, whereby the action of the spring as to resistance, or to retractile force, may be modified or adjusted.

One of the advantages to be derived relates to the provision of the pair of thumb screws 19, these being mounted at the front end of the base, at the sides thereof.

It is obvious that if these screws are rotated in one direction, the longitudinal inclination of the base may be changed. By use of these adjusting means, the front end of the base may be elevated to cause the pivotal mounting of the pedal to have a corresponding elevation, this feature being of advantage if the foot of the operator is comparatively large. And, in proportion, if the foot of the operator is less than ordinary, the pivotal mounting 13, by use of said means, may be lowered, which will permit working the foot with less fatigue than by any other means. Also, by use of the adjusting-members 19, the base 7 may be supported when inclined transversely, this being desirable and often necessary if the base rests upon a rough or imperfect surface or support.

The device is often used upon hastily constructed band-stands or other improvised supports, or on the ground, where rough surfaces are encountered, upon which the base 7 must be seated. In such instances, by use of one of members 19, the transverse inclination of the base may be effected for maintaining the pedal in a required position for operation. Numeral 18 indicates a clip generally mounted upon the l eaterrod for the support of a cymbal-beater.

It will be noted that the parts employed are few and simple, which conduces to durability and economy in manufacture, and the parts are so arranged that they will be convenient in use. The adjustments for the transverse or longitudinal inclinations for the base may be readily made. When mounting the device upon the drum-hoop, care should be exercised so that the convexed terminals a will not actually engage the drum-head but will be disposed in close proximity thereto, the clamping'bars then, by use of the set-screws d being secured to the hoop, the adjustment being such that the pivot Z) will be nearer to the drum head than one-half of the width of the head of the beater-rod.

While I have described construction in detail, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect, nor to size or proportion of parts or material to be used, except so far as described in the appended claims.

Numeral 21 indicates a support upon which the distal end of the base rests, and which the adj usting-members 19 are adapted to engage for elevating or lowering the pivotal mounting 18 with reference to said sup port, for the purpose described.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a drum beater, a base having a pair of standards projecting upwardly and within the hoop beyond one of its ends and having a joint bearing between the plane passing through the outer edge of the hoop and the head, a pair of clamping-bars disposed approximately parallel with and outwardly of the sides of the standards and pivotally mounted thereon, a beater-rod provided with a head and pivotally mounted on the standards at the terminals thereof, operating means, means for securing the clamping-bars to the hoop of the drum head so that the distance from the pivot of the beaterrod to the drum head will. be less than onehalf of the width of the head of the beaterrod, to prevent said beater-rod from moving to a vertical position.

2. In a drum beater, a base having a pair of standards formed with curved terminals and projecting upwardly and within the hoop beyond one of its ends and having a joint bearing between the plane passing through the outer edge of the hoop and the head, a pair of clamping-bars disposed out- .vardly of the sides and pivotally mounted on the standards, a beater-rod provided with a head and pivotally mounted on the standards, operating means, a coiled spring connected with the operating means and adapted to have a mounting at intervals of the beater-rod, and means for securing the clam iiing-bars to the hoop of the drum head in such a manner that the distance from the pivot of the beater-rod to the drum head will be less than one-half of the width of the head of the beater-rod, to prevent said beater-rod from moving to a vertical position.

3. In a drum beater, a base having a pair of standards projecting beyond one of its ends, clamping-bars arranged in pairs and mounted on the standards to project beyond the end of the base a distance substantially equal to the projection of the standards, a beaterrod provided with a head and pivotally mounted on the standards at the terminals thereof, operating means, one-half of the width of the head of the beater-rod being greater than the distance from the pivot of the beater-rod to the drum head to prevent the beater-rod from moving to a vertical position, adjustable means for disposing the base at selected degrees of longitudinal inclination, and adjustable means for disposing said base at selected degrees of transverse inclination. '7

a. In a drum beater, a base formed with a rectilinear bottom and having a pair of inclined standards projecting beyond one of its ends, clamping-bars arranged in pairs for engaging a hoop of the drum head, said clamping-bars being disposed approximately parallel with and outwardly of the sides of the standards and pivotally mounted thereon, a beater-rod provided with a head and pivotally mounted on the standards at the terminals thereof, operating means, one-half of the width of the head of the beater rod bein greater than the distance from the pivot of the beater-rod to the drum head. to prevent the heater-rod from moving to a vertical position, and a pair of thumb-screws mounted in the end of the base opposite to the standards for supporting said base at selected degrees of inclination.

in a drum beater, a base adapted to be disposed upon a support and having a pair of standards projecting beyond its rear end,

pivotally mounted clamping-bars arranged in pairs outwardly of the sides of the standards and having end-portions projecting rearwardly of the base, a beater-rod having a head and having a pivotal mounting on the standards, operating means including a pivotally mounted foot-pedal, means for elevating or lowering the pivotal mounting of the foot-pedal with reference to said support, one-half of the width of the head of said beater-rod being greater than the distance from the pivot of the heater-rod to the drum head.

6. In a drum beater, a base adapted to be disposed upon a support and having a pair of standards projecting beyond one of its ends, clamping-bars arranged in pairs for engaging a hoop of the drum head, said clamping bars being disposed approximately parallel with and outwardly of the sides of the standards and pivotally mounted thereon, a beater-rod provided with a head and pivotally mounted on the standards at the terminals thereof, operating means including a foot-pedal pivotally mounted on the base, means for elevating or lowering the pivotal mounting of the footpedal with reference to the support, one-half of the width of the head of the beater-rod being greater than the distance from the pivot of the beater-rod to the drum head to prevent the beater-rod from moving to a v vertical position.

7 In a drum beater, the combination with the pedal-frame arranged for a seating upon a support and provided with standards projecting rearwardly from one of its ends, each standard being provided with a of the standards, operating means including a foot-pedal pivotally mounted on the pedal-frame, means to adjust the pedalframe vertically with reference to the support, means to adjust the pedal frame transversely with reference to the support, onehalf of the width of the head of the beaterrod being greater than the distance from the pivot of the beater-rod to the drum head to prevent the beater-rod from moving to a vertical position. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. SMITH. Witnesses:

HIRAM A. Srnnons, M. M. Dn 130m. 

